Archive for August, 2010
The Obama administration on Monday reiterated its commitment to keeping former Sen. Alan Simpson as the co-chairman of the president's deficit commission even as the Wyoming Republican has come under heavy fire for his disparaging comments on Social Security.
"Senator Simpson sent an e-mail that he's now apologized for," White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters at Monday's daily briefing. "We regret that he sent that e-mail. We don't condone those comments. But Senator Simpson has and will continue to serve on the commission."
Last week, Simpson caused a stir when, in an e-mail to the executive director of National Older Women's League, he stated his opinion that Social Security is "like a milk cow with 310 million tits."
The former Senator went on to apologize for the e-mail -- though that was not the only one he sent -- while a host of predominantly progressive and women's-rights organizations called on him to either step down or be fired.
Last week, the White House said it accepted Simpson's apology. Gibbs' comments on Monday should put to rest some of the hopes - of Social Security's defenders - that the deficit commission co-chair might be axed before he could chart out ways to slash the entitlement program.
Emmys night is finally here! Find out how YOUR predictions stacked up with our up-to-the-minute winners list!
It seems like we’ve been waiting FOREVER for the 2010 Emmys to finally get here! The HollywoodLife.com staff has been making predictions in the 10 major categories all week (click below to see our picks) and now we’ll finally know whether we were dead-on or totally off. Keep checking this list throughout the night as more winners are announced, and of course, click here to join our live chat during the show!
Outstanding Comedy Series: Modern Family
Outstanding Drama Series: Mad Men
Lead Actress in a Drama Series: Kyra Sedgwick as Brenda Leigh Johnson on TNT’s The Closer
Lead Actor in a Drama Series: Bryan Cranston as Walter H. White on AMC’s Breaking Bad
Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman on AMC’s Breaking Bad
Supporting Actress in a Drama Series: Archie Punjabi as Kalinda Sharma on CBS’ The Good Wife
Lead Actress in a Comedy Series: Edie Falco as Jackie Peyton on Showtime’s Nurse Jackie
Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: Jim Parsons as Sheldon on CBS’ The Big Bang Theory
Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie: Al Pacino as Dr. Jack Kevorkian in HBO’s You Don’t Know Jack
Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie: David Strathairn as Professor Carlock in HBO’s Temple Grandin
Lead Actress in a Miniseries or Movie: Claire Danes as Temple Grandin in HBO’s Temple Grandin
Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series: Eric Stonestreet as Cameron Tucker on ABC’s Modern Family
Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Jane Lynch as Sue Sylvester on FOX’s Glee
Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: Neil Patrick Harris as Ryan Bryan on FOX’s Glee
Guest Actor in a Drama Series: John Lithgow as the Trinity Killer on Showtime’s Dexter
Guest Actress in a Comedy Series: Betty White as herself/host on NBC’s Saturday Night Live
Guest Actress in a Drama Series: Ann-Margaret as Rita Willis on NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Over at the Salon War Room, Justin Elliot has a post up about the way in which this weekend's "Beckapalooza" is being financed by a charity called the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and who the material beneficiaries are (the same charity, directly; Glenn Beck, indirectly). This parenthetical statement caught my eye:
(The event was originally billed as the unveiling of a new Beck book called "The Plan," which would outline steps to take over the next 100 years to "restore our great country." That was later scrapped for a vague focus on restoring honor.)
I've no idea if these plans were scrapped because they were, in terms of self-promotion, deemed to be a bridge too far. But whether Beck knows it or not, this was a shrewd decision. See, here in Washington, DC, "The Plan" has something of a sinister connotation.
From the October 6, 1985 Washington Post, "Does The White Return To D.C. Mean 'The Plan' Is Coming True?" by Eric Pianin and Courtland Milloy:
Almost as soon as blacks won real political power in the District of Columbia a decade ago, some began worrying that whites who had fled the city for the suburbs eventually would return to reclaim control. In this view, it was beside the point that Washington was "Chocolate City," with seven out of every 10 residents black. This theory held that whites -- particularly the Board of Trade set and the news media -- had a secret agenda for wresting control. It was known as "The Plan," and many felt it was only a matter of time before a white politician would be elected mayor and undermine much of the progress made by blacks.
In the ensuing years, the city's electorate has grown more sophisticated and discerning, yet the suspicion still lingers. Local politicians, labor leaders, academics and average residents insist that many people take "The Plan" seriously.
ALBANY, N.Y. — A special investigation has concluded that Gov. David Paterson's testimony about his plans to pay for World Series tickets last year was "inaccurate and misleading" and warrants consideration of criminal charges by a prosecutor.
In a report Thursday, former state Chief Judge Judith Kaye noted four of five tickets to the World Series opening game between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies were paid for shortly afterward, following a press inquiry from the New York Post newspaper. She said there's a question whether Paterson gave "intentionally false testimony" to the state Commission on Public Integrity about having written an $850 check in advance for two tickets.
Commission staff recommended last week that Paterson should be fined more than $90,000 in civil penalties for soliciting and accepting the tickets in violation of ethics law.
However, Kaye said the perjury issue was "clouded" by the way Paterson's testimony was given, with the entries read aloud to the legally blind governor. If Paterson had personally examined the check used to pay for two tickets, which was not in his handwriting, that "would have been obvious to the governor," she said.
Paterson's private attorney, Theodore Wells Jr., said Paterson didn't lie when he testified. He noted Kaye's report does not recommend bringing charges or conclude Paterson intended to give false testimony.
"We are therefore hopeful that (Albany County District Attorney David) Soares will ultimately conclude that no criminal charges are warranted," he said.
Paterson, a Democrat, has denied any wrongdoing. He eventually paid for two tickets, and staff members paid for two. He maintains going to the game was part of a ceremonial public duty as governor that entitled him to a ticket.
Former Albany County prosecutor Paul DerOhannesian II, not involved in the Paterson case, said politicians and celebrities are more susceptible to perjury charges partly because there are more public comments available to be used against them.
"It's a tough charge, and there certainly is a basis, but many individuals get charged with less," said DerOhannesian, now a defense attorney.
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) was short on specifics during his much-touted economic address in Cleveland this week, promising to offer a more detailed plan as the election approached.
But the Ohio Republican did outline some ideas about how President Obama could restructure both his White House staff and the economy. And in a subsequent report analyzing his suggestions -- which included the firing of top economic advisers -- the progressive think tank NDN estimates that the plans could exacerbate the deficit by roughly $3.7 trillion over the next ten years.
NDN is, obviously, not an un-biased source in the debate. But they base much of their data on non-partisan indicators. Boehner's suggestions stand little chance of becoming law. They were offered, primarily, as a counterpoint to the agenda that the president is pushing. But NDN's President and Founder Simon Rosenberg makes the case that in a year when deficit reduction is a cause celebre, Democrats would be well served, simply, by highlighting the numbers.
Here is the report NDN put together, titled: "The Fiscal Impact of the Boehner Plan"
The Republican National Committee is distancing itself from a personal tweet sent by one of its directors that suggested President Barack Obama had once admitted his Muslim heritage.
Late last week, the committee's new media director, Todd Herman, posted an item asking whether the president was among the 20 percent of the public who thinks he was a Muslim. The tweet linked to an old interview Obama gave in which he stumbled, verbally, in trying to explain why people were confused about his religion.
Asked whether the tweet was RNC sanctioned, spokesman Doug Heye replied, "no," before offering perhaps the fullest distancing yet of any Republican entity from the Obama-is-a-Muslim rumors.
"An errant, or sarcastically-intended tweet aside, the RNC has never spoken about the President's Christianity because it is both crystal clear and a non-issue. What is an issue, and remains foremost in the minds of voters is the failed efforts of Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid to grow jobs. Today, it was announced that existing home sales plunged by 27%; discussing this issue will serve the voters far better than any nonsense that won't employ a single American."
Politico's Ben Smith, who was first to notice Herman's tweet, suggested that the GOP had "concluded that poking at the allegation that Obama is a Muslim is less likely to blow up in their faces than they used to think." And, indeed, later in the day yet another GOP official seemed to offer a dog whistle of sorts when asked about the topic.
"I take the president at his word that he's a Christian," Republican gubernatorial hopeful Terry Branstad told the Des Moines Register.
Hey, kids! Were you hoping that one day, buying a house would once again yield the astounding level of wealth-by-appreciation that powered the housing boom of the past decade? Well, you'd better get yourself an alternate plan. Per the New York Times:
Housing will eventually recover from its great swoon. But many real estate experts now believe that home ownership will never again yield rewards like those enjoyed in the second half of the 20th century, when houses not only provided shelter but also a plump nest egg.
That's the news, from "analysts," who have rather bearish things to say about the future of the housing market, including this little gem from Dean Baker, who "estimates that it will take 20 years to recoup the $6 trillion of housing wealth that has been lost since 2005. After adjusting for inflation, values will never catch up."
And yet, hope springs eternal, especially is we define "hope" as "pure, irrational stupidity."
In an annual survey conducted by the economists Robert J. Shiller and Karl E. Case, hundreds of new owners in four communities -- Alameda County near San Francisco, Boston, Orange County south of Los Angeles, and Milwaukee -- once again said they believed prices would rise about 10 percent a year for the next decade.
Driver from www.huffingtonpost.com
WASHINGTON — The Republican National Committee's $5.5 million in July receipts includes a $900,000 insurance payment, helping boost anemic fundraising by the national party.
Federal campaign reports show that Democratic Party committees maintained a cash on hand advantage over their Republican counterparts as they entered the final three months before the election.
The Republican Party's insurance payment was from Illinois National Insurance, a subsidiary of insurance giant American International Group. A party official said the money was for an insurance claim but said there was a confidentiality provision in the agreement. The official was not authorized to discuss the claim publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The official said the payment was not related to AIG's financial troubles, which required a massive federal bailout.
Even with the claim, the RNC's receipts were less than half the $11.6 million raised by the Democrats. The Democratic Party reported $10.8 million in the bank and $3.5 million in debts; Republicans showed $5.3 million in the banks and $2.2 million in debts.
The RNC is by far the GOP committee struggling the most, creating anxiety among Republican operatives and increasing pressure on outside groups to help make up the financial gap.
The National Republican Congressional Committee raised $8.5 million to help House candidates, surpassing the $6.2 million raised by its Democratic counterpart. But the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee showed $35.8 million in the bank compared to $22 million for the NRCC.
The two parties' senatorial committees were closer to parity. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee raised $4.4 million and had $22.4 million in the bank. The National Republican Senatorial Committee raised nearly $4.2 million and had $21.2 million in the bank.
(This version CORRECTS Corrects last graf to NRSC having $21.2 million in bank instead of $212 million; minor edits.)
Driver from www.huffingtonpost.com
"An Evening of Hope with Sarah Palin," an event featuring the former Alaska Governor, was supposed to be a minor blockbuster in Jacksonville, Florida, next week, but not everything has gone as planned.
Slow ticket sales have forced event organizers to move the function from the 2,936-seat Moran Theatre to the significantly smaller 609-seat Terry Theatre.
"We would rather have a packed theater than a theater that's not so packed," Mark Nelson, coordinator of the event and director of Heroic Media, the faith-based, anti-abortion non-profit that provides advice to women facing unexpected pregnancies, told the Florida Times Union.
"We didn't have much time to promote the event and we are new to the Florida market," Kimberly Speirs, a Heroic Media spokeswoman explained to CNN.
For them, it appeared more about Palin's ability to carry a message that fit with their organization's mission.
"Sarah's faith and commitment to protecting life at every stage is evident in her words and actions," Nelson said earlier of the former vice presidential candidate.
Despite the move to a smaller venue, tickets still appear to be available at both the $100 and $50 rates as of Thursday afternoon.
The event is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26, with an opening performance from Sharon Wilbur, a contemporary Christian singer and American Idol finalist.
Driver from www.huffingtonpost.com
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is a Christian who prays daily, a White House official said Thursday, trying to tamp down growing doubts about the president's religion.
A new poll showed that nearly one in five people, or 18 percent, believe Obama is Muslim. That was up from 11 percent who said so in March 2009. The survey also showed that just 34 percent said Obama is Christian, down from 48 percent who said so last year. The largest share of people, 43 percent, said they don't know his religion.
White House spokesman Bill Burton said most Americans care more about the economy and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and "they are not reading a lot of news about what religion the president is." He commented on Air Force One as Obama headed for a vacation in Massachusetts on Martha's Vineyard.
Burton added, "The president is obviously a Christian. He prays everyday."
The survey, conducted by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center and its affiliated Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, is based on interviews conducted before the controversy over whether Muslims should be permitted to construct a mosque near the World Trade Center site. Obama has said he believes Muslims have the right to build an Islamic center there, though he's also said he won't take a position on whether they should actually build it.
In a separate poll by Time magazine/ABT SRBI conducted Monday and Tuesday – after Obama's comments about the mosque – 24 percent said they think he is Muslim, 47 percent said they think he is Christian and 24 percent didn't know or didn't respond.
In addition, 61 percent opposed building the Muslim center near the Trade Center site and 26 percent said they favor it.
The Pew poll found that about three in 10 of Obama's fiercest political rivals, Republicans and conservatives, say he is a Muslim. That is up significantly from last year and far higher than the share of Democrats and liberals who say so. But even among his supporters, the number saying he is a Christian has fallen since 2009, with just 43 percent of blacks and 46 percent of Democrats saying he is Christian.
Among independents, 18 percent say Obama is Muslim – up from 10 percent last year.
Driver from www.huffingtonpost.com
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Emmys night is finally here! Find out how YOUR predictions stacked up with our up-to-the-minute winners list! 
